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* * • g ’ hi*' .» •* 1 tandard <rj VOL. XXXI. THE PRESENTMENT. GRAND JURY RECOMMENDS EXPERT INVESTIGATION OF COUNTY OF EICES, 14 YEARS PAST. VVALTERBORO. S. C, NOVEMBER 25. iqo8. NO. 15 .vherein it was fought to prevent the P r payment by the county of one half the expense of erecting tank and tower as provided in said contract. OFFICERS AND OFFICES. The committee on offices and offi- cers have examined all the public offices of the county as thoroughly as their time and knowledge would permit. Of course, this examina tion was necessarily of the most superficial kind. All the offices were apparently well kept and according to law. but. even if this were not so, the committee has not the time nor are they properly qualified to ex amine in detail into what would prove a gigantic task for an expert. We, therefore, strongly recom mend and urge our representatives in the legislature, to secure the passage of an Act at the approach ing session thereof, providing for an investigation of the financial condi tion of our county, together with an investigation of all public offices for a period of 14 years last past, em powering the committee m charge of such investigation to send for par ties, summon witnesses and punish for contempt, and that such com mittee or a majority thereof be not selected from Colleton county. In our examination of the office of the clerk of court, we find that the following index books arearpidly ap proaching dissolution: Direct mort gages of real estate, conveyance of real estate, cross conveyance of real To the Honorable Geo. E Prince, Presiding Judge. We. herewith, submit the following presentment for the aforsaid term. We have passed upon all bills of indictment given us by the solicitor, and our findings are endorsed there on. At a former session of our body, a number of committees were appoint ed from our number for the follow ing specific purposes, viz: A com mittee on officers and offices; a committee on the farm for the poor; and a committee on chain gang. The said committees have made their report, and the same adopted and herein incorporated and made the report, of the grand jury. POOR FARM. The committee on the poor farm beg to report that they visited the farm and were pleased with the ex cellent appearance of everything connected therewith. The inmates expressed themseves to the com mittee as well taken care of by the superintendent. The farm produced this year. 3 FEWER MAGISTRATES. . TO CALL MEETING. LYNCHING IN HAMPTON. MR. TOWLES THINKS SIX ENOUGH FOR COUNTY AND THESE SHOULD GET BETTER SALARIES. 4— HON. G W. WAY DISCUSSES ROAD LAW AND SUGGESTS A COUNTY MEETING. PUNISHMENT VISITED SWIFTLY ON ^ WOULD BE RAPIST. YOUNG LADY AWAKENED AT MIDNIGHT. i pounds each, 200 estate and d ; rect mortgages of per- > bushels of pota-! sonal property. These books have bales of cotton, 500 bushels, of corn, 75 toes, 40 gallons of syrup. 4,000 ; been in constant use since the year pounds of hay, 3,000 pounds of fod-' 1866. In many instances names have der and 25 bushels of peas. W’e con- 1 been entirely obliterated. We re- aider this an exceptional showing for commend this mat tor to the serious the year, the seasons not having consideration of our representatives in the legislature so that they may | take the necessary steps to have been favorable. CHAIN GANG. The chain gang was visited by the committee for that purpose. There are 17 convicts on the upper gang these records re-indexed as soon as possible. Many of tne judgment rolls, in the clerk’s Office are without judg ment boxes and we recommend the and 11 on lower. They all seem to' purchase of a sufficient number of be in a good healthy condition ami boxes to hold the same, are well treated by the guards placeiK 1 We r. commend the same in regard over them. This information was to the records in the office ot the elicited from the convicts themselves judge of probate. These records when the guards were not present. | are of too important a character to The work required of them is at I be negligently regarded, times bard but they are not urged beyond their strength. The class of MAGISTRATES. We have examined the books work done is of an excellent charac- ter and the supervisor and guards I magistrates, excop! 1) VV Mallard deserve credit for the same. The W Bryan and .1 M I adgett. teams owned by the county first class condition. ROAD AND BRIDGES. are in case of Mr Padgett, he had exhausted the pages of his book and had not as yet l)een able to secure a new^one ; from the sapervi-or. So far as our observation has lead The examination of the book of us, we are of the opinion that the ' m *instrate Mallard, had at the last roiuls and bridges are in an excel-the court » showed an in- lent state of repair. | debtedness on his part to the county. Indeed, we might safely assert Tor fines collected, of ,$9.00. This that they are in better condition to-1 amount has not since been paid, so day throughout the county, as a we re.sfiectfully submit this matter whole, than ever before in our ex- to the considersi >n of the solicitor, perience. Where bridges are de-! to take such steps as to him may fective we find lumber ha* already seem proper. been placed with a view t*> their f tie books oi the magistrates seem repair. 1 1° be better kept, but there is still considerable looseness in the matter JAl1 " of docketing cases. In this connee- The jail, at present, contains 12 tion. we recommend the passage of pnsoners, who, judging from their an Act requiring magistrates to appearance are well eared for. We place upon their dockets a record of find the sanitary conditions fairly all warrants issued by them and the good. We note with regret that i disposition of same. The following our recommendations made in our is a concise record of the business last presentment, relative to certain done by the various magistrates needed repairs to the jail, have not 1 from July 6th 1908 to the present been heeded. The changes sug- Wme. > ^ gested in a previous presentment, we ■ J H Chaplwrvl'ases docketed 3, consider very necessary to the com- j sent to jail 2, sent to general sessions fort and well being of the inmates. 1. No tines paid. - ! L H Hill -Cases docketed 18, dismissed 2, compromised 10, escaped 1, chain gang 2. fined 3, fines amount and we urge their early performance. COURT HOUSE. to $40. No vouchers. J C Crosby- Cases docketed 7, dis missed 5. compromised 1, court of sesssions 1, nothing collected. H A Cummings—Cases docketed 4, fined 4, tines collected $8. vouchers $8. J E Bryan—Cases docketed 36, sent to gen’l sessions 4, pending 4. t ' . It is a matter af great and unmix- ed pride, that we can now point to our court house as being completely renovated and repaired. We desire to draw especial atten tion to the lighting facilities afford ed. In the place of a few dirty, smoky little lamps, formerly provid ed we now have a chandelier, of beautiful design, containing lamps, compromised 2, escaped 3, dismissed which amply illuminate the buiid- for want of prosecution 3, change of jng venue 1. withdrawn 4, settled out of .court, fined 2. $5 and $10 respective- -waterworks. jy f ounf | n ^t guilty 3 vouchers $15.00. We have carefully considered the P J Wilson—Chain gang 1, inquest Contract, made between the 1, continued 1 compromised 1, dis- county and the town of Walterboro, missed 4, to jail 3, paid fined 3, whereby the county buildings in change of venue 1, $13.00 with said town are supplied with water; i vouches. and in connection therewith, we I) H Towles < ases dacketed -69, desire to commend the action of our chain gang 59, fines collected $102.- present Supervisor, J E Moore in 75. To court 1, dismissed T. pend- entering into the said contract in ing 4, number «>f cases finished 5, behalf of the county. inquest 1, vouchers tor $102.75. In our opinion, he acted for the LG Ulm r -Cases docketed 8, interest of the county in so doing, compromised 8, nothing collected, and we arevftiliy persuaded that the WS Weeks—Cases docketed 7, tourse adoptea by him will eventu-j dismissed 3, appealed 1, sessions ally recommend itself as the best court 1. to keep peace 1, chain arrangement, under the circum-; gang 1, nothing collected, stances, for the purposes in view. Grimes vm Towles. The urimw We desire to bring to the atten-! Towles matter which was continued tion of the supervisor, the urgent from the last term of court t Uus ** providing separate term, for final action, has received of _._jets for the two races. This need is especially emphasized during court when the present ar rangement is readily seen to he im possible. We recommend that this M done at once. We have noted with eqpedal satisfaction the refusal of tiie injunction prayed for and made returnable before his Hon. Prince at • Beaufort, S.C. our most careful atteention. We have reached the conclusion that nothing has come before us which would warrant us in taking any ac tion in the premises, therefore, we have dismissed it. EDUCATION. We desire to report that the dition of the Editor Press and Standard:—Since th«* general and terse discussion of the Road Problem, that the ear of the public has been attuned to the point of attention, and (as the knights of the quill would say now is the “Phychological nfbment”) I desire to take up another phase of the subject that 1 unintentionally referred to en passant last week, which is a revision of the Magistrate system as we now find it. These two questions are so closely allied, that no matter what plan we adopt, as a working basis for the road problem, unless we have magis trates who will oversee the work to look after their end carefully, we will be handicapped. The present Magistrate system, judging from published reports, seem to be a farce and has lapsed into a state of (to use Grover Cleveland’s expres sion) “inocuous desuetude." Our courts are instituted, pos sibly for the protection of society, and the magistrate is the initiative branch, * necessarily therefore, a very important factor of the system, from this view point. The people should realize the great importance of electing them. They should be men of un questioned character with well bal anced minds, and well up in intel lect and mental attainments. How are we to get such men? Surely not by the small compensation allowed by the ia\\. It practically says here is your commission there is the field, look out for yourself. Tne | ouk Mr. Sanders makes when he .-uggests they compromise the ca.-es, is well put. We have tNvelve nwisti Hies in the county, why not cr. them dow n to six and pay them a reasoably fair salary so they can maintain themselves and families wnb dome degree of res pect ahilUv and if the i»eoi)le elect to idopt Hie tnree districts road plan, I have suggested, have two appoint ed to each. Allow them to have no other interest but to look after the law and older of their respective district, I am sure they can fill the requirements of the territory • 1 would take them out of the Primary Election, (too much r<Ha»i here for the working of itersonal spite) make their appointments conditioned up on the recommendation of the Board of Road Directors, also to be removed at any time through the same source the subject matters then would le where it belongs, in the hands of the people and would Ik* handled and directed by the pro gressive and l>est elements in the county, making for nu uplift of each community. There may be some who will think thi> a digress-* Mthi^but my experience lots taught me that the questions are so closely allied- that I feel constrained to bring to public attention this phase of the subject for if we adopt the local chain gang idea it will nut prove successful unless we have vigilant magistrates. I’nder the above sug gestions the people will keep these straight and on the move. The! Blind Tigers will nie to the swamps, and we will have a more business like administration of affairs. Judge Prince is right, we want j better business men and business methods in our county affairs. Let; us get away from the idea of put-! ting persons into these positions from sympathy and friendship. In conclusion, I beg to thank you, ( Mr. Editor, for the use of your columns and to commend the manly, stand you have taken for the moral I uplift of the count/. Trusting the . agitation of the question xill prove “Pro bono publico”. I am, Respectfully youi D. H. Towles. throtyghout the county wherever our observation has led uj. seems to denote that we are getting a better class of teachers in the c >unty. We ' are of the opinion that the schools of the county are now’ in better con- diton than ever before. The condi tion of the free schoolsvery premia-: ing. in concluding, this our last pre sentment for the year 1908, we desire to say that in all the various matters which have come before us, we have honestly striven to do our full duty in abcordance with our oath of office, and trust that the county has not suffered through any mistakes we may have made. Finallyr we wish to thank your honor for the uniforin urbanity and courtesy which has marked your relationswith us. We alio desire to express our thanks to the solicitor and court officials for their kindly assistance accorded us. • All of which is rsspectfully sub mitted- 0 J J Polk. Editor Press and Standard: By request I shall outline as briefly as 1 can some things that 1 believe would be right and just on this proposed road law problem. As you no doubt remember, that on the stump. 1 advocated the law as it now stands with some amendments to it. That every dollar collected should be ex pended in the township where col lected. I also favor a two mill tax on all taxable property in the county, for the reason that there are hun dreds of men in the county that the two-do liar tax, by law, can’t reach. Therefore: they ought to help bear some of the burdens of the county. Then we can not forget the fact that on theae same men there is a poll tax of one-dollar for school purposes ad ded to that two milt tax with your other assessment and you will see that your taxes are going higher than ever. This money collected wisely, and judiciously expended would in a short time give us good roads all over the county. That each township in the county riiould be divided up into sections and some responsible man be elected or appointed as overseer for each section—pay him a living salary and place him under bond for a faithful performance of his duties. Said overseer to make a report once a week of the work done to the Super visor, and the Supervisor make a public report every three months through tlie county paper or t>apers of the work done and the money ex pended. Then the rights of all the people would be protected, and we would see and know where the work was done and where our money was spent. I also favor the passage of an act at the approaching legislature providing for an investigation of all the public offices of this county fora period of ten years past. There are other things 1 would like to say something about but I will stop for the present. 1 will say, however, that I am in favor of ealL ing a meeting of the whole county just as s«x»n ss court is oVer for a free discussion of all matters per taining to the counties good. I shall ask Mr. Sanders and Mr. Robertson to join with me in that cal; at the propertijne. G. W. Way. LIST OF JURORS., o o o The following gentlemen were drawn to serve as jurors of the court ofGeneral Sessions to convene No vember 23: THIRD WEEK- T. M. Reeves, G. H. Hiers. A. K. Huggins, J. I). Colson, A. E. W illiams, J. Z. Harri son, J. F. Strickland, M. M. Smith, J. H. Fender, R. P. Sanders, S. D. Bunton, I. N. Rizer, Jule M. Avant, W. D. Berrv, A. W. Perry, T. P. Beny, I. J. Fox. B. B. Crosby, W. H. Guess, C. F. Butler. B. P. Warren, W. C. Glover, J. E. Thomas, F. Y. Legate, H. C. Price, W. R. Thackston, J. H. Martin, J. H. Wood, E. W. King, A. A. Patterson- Jr, A. B. Garris, A. C. Hiers. C. W. Gerity, P. S. Minue, W. C. Brant, A. C. vonLehe. Fourth Week, December 7-B R Bennett, F I) Carter, W R Reynolds, L B Carter, J D Nettles. W W Cone, W E Jaycocks, BO Beach, J B Rions, W R Addison, I A Sauls, W I) Drawdy, J B Hudson, L J Jones, J W Mills, D E Appleby, D W Bever ley, J W Hiott, J M Vamedore, C S Spell, W L Lucas, Jno I Garvin, J H Remley, F C Bennett, C C Hiott, W A Carter, J H Davis, A E Nowell, Moses Ritts, W W Davis, K K Hud son, W D Black, G I Blocker; Edgar Graves. APPEALS TO BE HEARD. The appeals from Adams Run and Bethlehem 'school destricts which have been taken to the State Board of Education will be heard Friday at Columbia. Hon Jas F^. Peurifoy and M P Howell, represent the Adams Run appeal; Hon J S Griffin and W B Gruber the Bethlehem. It is not known just now how many of these attorneys will be able to go to Columbia on account of court being in session. CEMENT HOUSE. The first cement block bouse for Walterboro is being constructed over the machinery for pumping water on the court house square. These blocks were made by J. R. Halford, who has the contract for erecting this building. . GRAND JURORS CHOSEN The following members of the were chosen to holdover: J Ramph, J T Garris, J E Harper. IE StridTland, P M Smith, and T M F Hoate. / Brunson, November 23.—Special: Sim Gilmore, a young negro man, about 20 years old, was taken from the guard house in Luray, this coun ty. about midnight last night and hanged. The negro had been em ployed on the farm of Mr. A.C. Fitts, a highly respectable citizen. Saturday night while the two daugh ters of Mr. Fitts were sleeping to gether one of the young ladies was awakened by feeling a hand upon her face and another upon her per son beneath the bed covering. Her screams aroused the family and frightened away the intruder. Gil more was tracked and arrested. He confessed and implicated another young negro man, who ib yet at large. x In the hat of Gilmore was found the picture of a nude white woman. Gilmore stated that he and his ac complice had been planning for weeks the assault attempted Satur day night. Before the sheriff could reach Luray the enraged citizens visited their wrath on the guilty negro. Should his partner in crime be caught he will probably meet a simi lar fate. COURT PROCEEDINGS. Sarah Lawrence charged with murder was tried Wednesday and Tursday morning and acquitted. She was represented by Jas E Peuri foy Esq and D B Peurifoy, Jr. D B Peurifoy made his maiden speech on this case and crated quite a favora ble impression by the able manner in which he presented the case of I his client- Mr Peurifoy has not yet i been admitted to the bar, but ex pects to go up at the next opportun ity. j Sarah l^awrence was charged wdth having killed he husband Scipio Lawrence with a broom stick. The defense claimed that his death was due to natural causes and sustained their ]>osition with a certificate from the physician who made the post mortem examination. Israel Campbell was tried for kill ing Comfort Smith in July, near Meggett. and acquitted. She was represented by J C Lemacks Esq. and D B Peurifoy, Jr. Anna Jane Walker was found guilty of larceny of live stock and , sentenced to one year in the peniten tiary. She was represented by Padgett & Lemacks who have been granted a new’ trial. The balance of the week was taken up in the trial of LoiT^Hay and George Smith for killing Dan Hay, her husband. They were found guilty of murder with a recommen- (lation to mercy and sentenced to life imprisonment in the penitentiary. The defendants were represented by E L Fishburne and D B Peurifoy, Jr. who made a motion for a new trial which was overruled. They were taken to Columbia yesterday. Several appeal magistrate cases were heard Friday. Ben Garrett, Jr. charged with larceny of live stoc^ from the field, appealed from magistrate K G W Bryan, affirmed. Abraham Drayton, carrying off cow appealed from magistrate D W Mellard, reversed and dismissed. Lazarus Gertrude larceny from field from Mag. R G W Bryan reversed and new trial granted. H L O’Bryan, assault and battery, from Mag. R G W Bryan, reversed and new trial granted. Mary Inabinet, obtaining goods under false pretense from Mag. H A Cummins, appeal sustained and case dismissed. Dennis Allen, violation of labor contract from J C Crosby* reversed and new trial granted. This ended the work for the General Sessions court for the first week. There were two general sessions cases set for trial Monday and Tues day of this week that of Thomas for disposing of property under lein, and the case of Veroni which was trnsferred from Charleston county- but Inith these were continued. Monday was taken up, therefore, in sounding the docket in the Common Fleas court anj^striking off a num- her of cases that had been settled in one w’ay or another. » Tuesday was ta^en up in the trial of a will case. Suit was brought by M D John, and Teat Warren to break the will of Sallie Warren in which she had left her land half to P W Drawdy and half to Gemirna War ren. This had been tried in the probate court and decided in favor ot Drawdy, and was brought up to the Circuit Court by appeal. The jury brought in a verdict sos- SOCIAL CHIB ORGANIZED. THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF OUR SISTEt TOWN ENJOYING THEMSELVES SAYS OUR CORRESPONDENT. Ehrhardt. Nov. 23.—Special: Dear Mr Editor, Guess you will be suprised to hear from us. We are having such a good time I am &b- bliged to tell you and my friends about some of the hapenings. Ehr- hardt’s, has always been a place where everybody enjoyed themselv es the old as well as the young. Now we have organized a social club where everybody can have a good time. We had our first meeting about two weeks ago. at this meet ing we wrote but the constitution and by-laws, and elected officers. Mia Lillian Eppa, was elected president. Mr Willie Hiers, Vice S res. Mrs J. D. Dannely, Sec. Ire Conrad Hartz, Treaa. We have had two meetings since and added members to our happy throng at both meetings. There are now thir ty one members and we are expect ing to welcome others at our next meeting, which will be at the home of Mia Ned Ehrhardt, Thursday evening at 8 o’clock. Our first meeting was held at the Uvely home qfMr and Mrs J. F. Chassereau. We were next entertained by Mr and Mrs J. D. Dannely. All enjoyed both meetings to the utmost and we are expecting a grand time Thurs day evening. A nice little party of fourteen had an enjoyable straw ride last Thursday evening. I won’t take space to describe it but the ride was fine. Now last but not least we will have a K of P meeting here this evening at 8 o’clock would be glad to have you with us. There are three candidates for the third rank. With your permission I will come again. ‘Reclaw’ CONFERENCE AT METHO DIST CHURCH. RESOLUTIONS. Sunday morning after service at the Methodist church a Church Conference was held. At this meet ing the church received the final re port of the year from the pastor. Rev. J. L. Daniel. There was still due something over $106.00 which was raised by those present in a very few minutes. Indeed, more money was raised than was needed, leavings surplus of about $25.00. The total raised for salary, missions, conference claims, ^Sunday school supplies etc- during this year amounted to about $2,055.00. A fact worthy of mention is that & greater number of persons contri buted to all these claims than ever before. There are now’ 183 bona fide members of this church, the roll having recently been revised marking off 34 names cf those who had died or been lost sight of for the past year. It will be seen, therefore, that the amount raised is about $11.25 per capita. At the conclusion of the business session of the conference the follow ing resolutions were offered by Hon. J. E. Peurifoy and unanimously adopted. Whereas the church year is about to close and our pastor is about to leave for the annual conference, and whereas our beloved pastor, Rev. J. L. Daniel, has served us so faith fully and with marked ability, and Whereas we desire to express our affection for him and our approval of him as our pastor; therefore be Resolved that we express our sin cere appreciations for him as our pastor and we appreciate his able sermons and his faithful services as j a pastor, heartily commending him for his work since in our midst. CAMPING PARTY. A gay party of gentlemen from Orangeburg passed through town this morning on their way to War ren’s Point on a hunting and camp ing expedition. These gentlemen are among the most prominent Offi cials and busihess men of Orange burg. They will remain in camp for several days Among those in the party may be mentioned; S. A. Dukes. John Gram- ling, J. G. King, J. L. Reeves, L. G. Shuler, H. S. Halman, R. L. Antley. Pink Harley, Billy Pew, and Fred N. Rickenbacker. taining the will. Griffin an appellants (mtndantf and Tracy represented the Howell k Gruber the Today the case of Towles and "Ar nett vs A. C. L. R. R Co., is being tried. This case was tried at the Spring term 1908, and withdrawn from the jury because of error made by presiding judge in the admiari- . bility oT certain evidence* Hus is a tsuit for damages resulting from the alleged lorn of 381 potato barrels and the consequent lorn of sale of potatoes. The amount aaked for is $1,960.00. The plaintiffs are re presented by Griffin. Padgett, How ell k Gruber; ri*. defendant by Jfta. E. Peurifoy. * I , l m K,